T5 national guitar temp

National Resophonic Factory Tour #5

The Cone Demystified!

Another great visit at the National Factory on a frigid 65 degree February day. Today we'll see some cool guitars, but mostly, we'll actually see a cone made from start to finish. I've been here many times and hadn't actually seen it done in person. Heres a cool first hand look. Enjoy my friends!

To the right, Don Young holds a duco finish Delphi. I'me holding an amazing one off custom Style 5 Tricone in Antique Brass finish. This started as a Style 5 body that was stored in the shop popping up. From there, a custom neck made, the body replated in brass over the nickel plating, then acid etched. As you can see, the patina is fantastic! See how the engraving fades into the brass. This was a big hit at the NAMM show. The last Style 5 they will make. I had to take it home with me, how could I not?

Len w Don Young at Don's bench holding a great Tricone!

That's an example of the capabilities of the people at National. Awesome!

Well, here I take you deep into the bowels, beyond the cobwebs, down the stairs, to the top secret underground........ uhhhhh, sorry. It just has always seemed a mystery......THE CONE!

New cones, vintage cones, with all the talk about cones, it's time to see how they are made. The pics below are in order of process. In this example, we (Don) will be making a Dobro style cone for a spider bridge. The same process goes for the standard single cones, just a different form used. You will see at first, starting w a blank round thin piece of metal, we first form the top smaller concave section. Then the form is changed, the cone turned over, and the larger outer form is fashioned. Then a tool change to form the stiffening outer band. Then a cutting tool will cut the rough outer edge. A quick touch w the original tool rounds off the outer edge.

Lastly, this spinning machine is the real McCoy. It was made sometime in the early 30's, and Don has rebuilt it from the ground up. This machine is his baby!

Above a couple pics up, Don graciously clears off his bench for me so I can quickly disassemble a 14 fret O w a cracked body. Bronco Billy soldered it up nicely w a little plate inside for strength. Above right, Don plays an El Trovador while a train goes by. Then below, he plays my old O w the same train coming by again..... Whats the odds of that happening? Note the rare 12 fret O on the table I brought up. 12 fret w a chicken foot coverplate and mahogany sq neck. Wow!

National Resophonic Factory Tour #5 The Cone Demystified! Another great visit at the National Factory on a frigid 65 degree February day. Today we'll see some cool guitars, but mostly, we'll actually see a cone made from start to finish. I've been here many times and hadn't actually seen it done in person. Heres a cool first hand look. Enjoy my friends! To the right, Don Young holds a duco finish Delphi. I'me holding an amazing one off custom Style 5 Tricone in Antique Brass finish. This started as a Style 5 body that was stored in the shop popping up. From there, a custom neck made, the body replated in brass over the nickel plating, then acid etched. As you can see, the patina is fantastic! See how the engraving fades into the brass. This was a big hit at the NAMM show. The last Style 5 they will make. I had to take it home with me, how could I not?	Len w Don Young at Don's bench holding a great Tricone!


That's an example of the capabilities of the people at National. Awesome! Well, here I take you deep into the bowels, beyond the cobwebs, down the stairs, to the top secret underground........ uhhhhh, sorry. It just has always seemed a mystery......THE CONE! New cones, vintage cones, with all the talk about cones, it's time to see how they are made. The pics below are in order of process. In this example, we (Don) will be making a Dobro style cone for a spider bridge. The same process goes for the standard single cones, just a different form used. You will see at first, starting w a blank round thin piece of metal, we first form the top smaller concave section. Then the form is changed, the cone turned over, and the larger outer form is fashioned. Then a tool change to form the stiffening outer band. Then a cutting tool will cut the rough outer edge. A quick touch w the original tool rounds off the outer edge. Lastly, this spinning machine is the real McCoy. It was made sometime in the early 30's, and Don has rebuilt it from the ground up. This machine is his baby!


Above, before and after. To the right, a few that didn't make the cut, and a ton of outer edge cuts which you'll see at the end. See a handful of these deadly sharp creatures below.
	Above, here is the stamping tool that puts the cool swirls in the cone, also helping to stiffen it. Below, see blanks to the left and finished cones to the right, then there's ....ooooohhhh, C a t h y .... J e a n! sweeeeeet. Oops, ok, I digress.


Note the rod itself has a small spinning wheel at its end. It's torqued against the fast spinning blank, against the form.

This side is now done, form change to the right. In reality, you'd do 2-300 on one side, change form, then finish em all


Above, new form is attached. White plastic form attached to the concave side we just created. Now to form the larger outer side.
	The time from inside to outside while it spins at high speed is literally 10 seconds!
	Cutting tool w sharp edge cuts off the outer excess.
Yikes! The outer ring flies off immediately. That guy woul d slice you up good!
One last touch smooths the outer edge. Right, Don holds the finished product.	ANY QUESTIONS? I didn't think so.... Nooooowww, Beat It!
Below, more sights at the Factory... Here are some tricone tops, right the same. Note the steel wells in the background stacked up.
Below.... Here's one reason Nats are so fine. This body has already been soldered and the edges polished out. Here, Sweet Willie Hayes slowly works his way around filling every little pinhole in the original solder joint! That's super attention to detail and many extra man hours to see it's done perfect.
	Above, Marvelous Mark Sweetlove does his thing, which is making sure your neck is set up perfectly to the body. Left, Metal King and Man of Steel, Bronco Billy Neutron custom fit's a nice safety guard on Don' s baby. He also whipped out a quick repair on an cracked O I brought w me. Super talented guy who left a career in the Rodeo to head the National metal shop. Bendin metal beats riding bulls any day of the week he says!

Above a couple pics up, Don graciously clears off his bench for me so I can quickly disassemble a 14 fret O w a cracked body. Bronco Billy soldered it up nicely w a little plate inside for strength. Above right, Don plays an El Trovador while a train goes by. Then below, he plays my old O w the same train coming by again..... Whats the odds of that happening? Note the rare 12 fret O on the table I brought up. 12 fret w a chicken foot coverplate and mahogany sq neck. Wow!

Above, we inspect the Duco finish on a new delphi. I like mines better. Well, that'll do it. Hope you enjoyed the tour. I always have a good time and they can't be any more gracious to me when I visit. Below, I'll take us home now playing a little Gary Davis on the El Trovador..... singin..." If I, HAD MY WAY......" huh, what Don, oh, no singing in the factory. Sorry about that...... Take care all. "(whisper) I would tear this old building down."